Method of making vaginal tampons



March 18, 1941. F STAMM 2,235,465

' METHOD OF MAKING VAGINAL TAMPONS Filed Feb. 16, 1959 1 N VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention aims to provide a novel vaginal tampon, and a novel method for making it, the tampon being small in size, so that it can be carried conveniently in a pocket or purse, the tampon being compressed so that, when moistened, it will expand and exercise its ofltce.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.-

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 shows in plan, the material out of which the tampon is made;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan showing the strip after it has been compressed;

Fig. 4 is across section on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan of the complete tampon.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided an elongated strip I, shown in Fig. 1, and composed, preferably, of long-fibered, surgical, absorbent cotton.

The strip l is run through a sewing machine, and is stitched with thread, through and through, along parallel lines 2, disposed near the outer edges of the strip. When this step has been completed, the constituent material of the strip I is bound securely together, and the strip, in cross section, appears as shown in Fig. 2. The stitching shown at 2 should be composed of long stitches, and it is preferred that a light cotton thread be used.

After the strip I leaves the sewing machine,

the strip is sprayed or treated otherwise with a hygienic vaginal deodorant, there being one or more well known products of that sort upon the market.

The strip I, in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is forced through a tube, or compressed otherwise, until the cross sectional area of the strip is greatly reduced, as shown in connection with the strip 3 of'Figs. 3 and 4.

The strip 3 is severed along transverse lines 4, to form tampons 5. The lines of severing, indicated at 4, preferably are curved, so that, at its forward end, the tampon 5 has a, convexed surface 6, the tampon being provided at its rear end with a concaved surface 1, the surfaces 6 and 1 cooperating to aid in the locating of the tampon properly in vaginam.

The tampon, in the small form shown best in Fig. 4, may be carried about readily and will occupy but little space. When moistened, the tampon Will expand to proper size. In order that the tampon may be removed easily, it is provided, adjacent to the seat 1, with a draw string 8 or equivalent means.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1-. A method of making a vaginal tampon, which comprises fastening together a strip of tampon material having oppositely-disposed outer edges, by stitching it along longitudinal lines adjacent to said outer edges, compressing the strip to reduce its cross sectional area to an approximately oblong form, and severing the strip transversely to form tampons.

2. A method of making a vaginal tampon, which comprises fastening together a strip of tampon material adjacent to its outer edges, compressing the strip of tampon material to reduce its cross sectional area, and severing the strip transversely into tampons, the severing taking place along curved lines, thereby forming a rounded entering surface at the forward end of each tampon, and a concaved seat at the opposite end of the tampon.

FRANKLIN P. STAMM. 

